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iPadmania and the 'Let Loose' aftermath

iPadmania and the 'Let Loose' aftermath

We're still recovering from Apple's big iPad-focused event!

Lewis Wallace
May 11, 2024

Apple’s “Let Loose” event brought a super-thin new iPad Pro, the biggest iPad Air ever, a blazing-fast new M4 chip, and fresh hardware and software for the tablets.

It gave Apple its strongest iPad lineup to date — plus a headache caused by an iPad Pro ad that irritated artists. Nobody saw that one coming!

Get all our event coverage, plus everything that followed in a monumental week for the iPad, below.

Also in this edition of The Weekender:

If you didn’t see the event, watch our video that distills all the essential revelations into just 90 seconds.
We put together fresh buying guides for you. One outlines the differences between Apple’s new tablets. Two more will help current iPad owners decide if they should upgrade to an M2 iPad Air or an M4 iPad Pro.
Apple wants AI to make Siri smart (and that’s just the tip of the iceberg on the Apple AI front).
Finally, we found all kinds of deals for your weekend shopping pleasure (including some great buys on Apple gear).

Enjoy your weekend!

— Lewis Wallace, managing editor

‘Let Loose’ event roundup

Watch Apple’s ‘Let Loose’ event in just 90 seconds

If you don’t have time to sit through the 38-minute “Let Loose” Apple event, here it is in just 90 seconds.

All the product news from the event:

It's iPadmania! [The CultCast]

This week on Cult of Mac's podcast, it's time for an Apple "Let Loose" event postmortem. We talk iPad Pro, iPad Air, M4 chip and more.

Features we expected but didn't get in M4 iPad Pro

The new iPad Pro adds an OLED screen and M4 processor but other features quietly disappeared. And some never appeared at all.

2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air ditch the physical SIM slot for good

Apple has removed the physical SIM slot from the cellular variants of the M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air, moving entirely to eSIM.

Bummer! New iPads won’t work with old Apple Pencil.

As Apple introduces the all-new Apple Pencil Pro, an Apple Pencil 2 compatibility chart shows the older stylus doesn't work with new iPads.

Top-tier 2024 iPad Pros get faster chip, more RAM, hefty price tags

The amount of RAM in the 2024 iPad Pro depends on how much storage is added. And the chip gets an upgrade with more capacity, too.

First M4 iPad Pro benchmarks show 21% performance increase over M3

Find out how the Apple M4 processor in the 2024 iPad Pro outperforms its predecessor, the M3. The chip is expected to hit Macs this autumn.

News

Apple using AI to make Siri more useful

A broad outline of Apple's plan to improve the Siri voice assistant with artificial intelligence leaked out Friday.

Plus, more Apple AI news:

Apple apologizes over reviled ‘Crush!’ iPad Pro ad [Updated again]

Outraged creatives call "Crush!," a new Apple video for iPad Pro, wantonly destructive, wasteful, insensitive, egotistical and more.

iPhone 17 lineup might feature 'more complex' designs, smaller Dynamic Island

Apple plans big changes for the iPhone lineup next year, including a new iPhone 17 Slim model, 24MP front-facing cameras and more.

Plus, more Apple rumors:

Could John Ternus equal Tim Cook and Steve Jobs as Apple CEO?

John Ternus, Apple's SVP of hardware engineering, might be the top candidate to take on the role of Apple CEO once held by Steve Jobs.

Marvel’s ‘What If…?’ VR/AR app coming to Vision Pro

Explore the Marvel Multiverse like never before with "What If...? — An Immersive Story." This VR/AR experience is coming only to Apple Vision Pro.

Plus, more Apple entertainment news:

You can customize new Pride Collection's Apple Watch face and wallpapers

The new Apple Pride Collection brings customizable colors on screens plus a fresh Apple Watch Pride Edition Braided Solo Loop.

How-to

How to use the iPhone's one-handed keyboard mode (and Reachability)

iPhone screen too big? Hands full? iPhone one-handed keyboard mode can help. Plus, Reachability makes the top of the screen easier to reach.

Deals

With new model out, great deals abound on M1 iPad Air

Now that M2 iPad Air is out, bargain-seekers can nab great deals on M1 iPad Air, which is still a great tablet for many users.

Plus, more Apple deals:

Get Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac, just $29.97

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Teams Classic.

Plus, more software from Cult of Mac Deals:

Take this rugged, waterproof speaker to the beach or your campsite for only $59.99

Take your audio anywhere with the Treblab HD77, a waterproof, shock-resistant, outdoor Bluetooth speaker with up to 20 hours of battery life.

Plus, more hardware from Cult of Mac Deals:

This cybersecurity course bundle is great for experienced IT students

The Complete 2024 Cyber Security Expert Certification Training Bundle is a cybersecurity certification course on sale for $49.99.

Reviews and recommendations

M4 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air comparison: Do you really need the Pro?

Unsure which shiny new Apple tablet to buy? Discover the right choice in our M4 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air buying guide.

Plus, more buying guides:

Digital photo frame with Wi-Fi makes great Mother’s Day gift [Review] ★★★★☆

GPX Capture 7-inch Wi-Fi Photo Frame makes a great gift for your non-techie mom. Display pictures and videos from your whole extended family.

iPhone charger with built-in battery pack looks totally sci-fi

This unique MagSafe battery pack stand ensures you always have an iPhone battery pack charged and ready to go.

Use your iPhone to scan and fax documents with this multipurpose scanning app

SwiftScan VIP turns your iPhone into a document-scanning multitool. It's on sale for 70% off, the best price online.

Setups

A top microphone needs a great audio interface

The YouTuber behind this MacBook Pro setup relies on a Shure SM7DB microphone and a Focusrite audio interface for sound quality.

Edifier speakers rock slick MacBook Pro rig

Affordable Edifier R1280T speakers, powered for vibrant sound in a bookshelf-size box, provide the soundtrack to this MacBook Pro setup.

Overhead LED lamp lights up hot M3 Max MacBook Pro rig

The double-head Pzloz LED Desk Lamp looks like a great alternative to monitor light bars for many setups, especially on big desks.